By Josh Boyd
November 16, 2002

When he was Athletics general manager Billy Beane's right-hand man, J.P. Ricciardi had a hand in acquiring righthander Cory Lidle from the Devil Rays as part of the January 2001 three-team blockbuster centering around Johnny Damon. Now the Blue Jays GM, Ricciardi traded minor leaguers Mike Rouse and Chris Mowday to Beane on Saturday in order to bring Lidle to Toronto.

The first trade Ricciardi executed with his former boss netted Rookie of the Year Eric Hinske and Justin Miller for Billy Koch.

Oakland jump-started the career of Lidle, a 30-year-old righthander who went 21-16, 3.74 in two seasons as the No. 4 starter behind Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder. But he was set to make $4.8 million in 2003, and the A's are trying to keep a lid on their growing payroll. A groundball pitcher, Lidle operates with outstanding command of a four-pitch repertoire including an average fastball to go with a splitter, curveball and changeup. He went 8-10, 3.89 in 2002, including a 32-inning scoreless streak and a 2.69 ERA after the all-star break. He has a 33-24, 3.96 record in 150 career games (73 starts). He'll join Roy Halladay and Miller in a rotation Ricciardi still is piecing together after eight Jays made 10 or more starts in 2002.

Rouse, 22, was drafted in the fifth round from Cal State Fullerton in 2001. He went straight to high Class A Dunedin after signing and held his own by hitting .272-5-24 in 48 games. After an outstanding spring training, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound shortstop was assigned to Double-A Tennessee for his first full season. A broken hand in April cost him 2½ months, however. Rouse hit .260-9-43 in 71 contests. While he doesn't have prototypical shortstop actions, he's reliable with good hands and playable range and arm strength. He might be better suited for second base and has enough bat to possibly contribute as a No. 2 hitter. He has been making up for lost time by playing in the Arizona Fall League.

Mowday, 21, signed out of Australia in October 1997. A live-armed 6-foot-4 righthander, he started the year in high Class A Dunedin before he was demoted to low Class A Charleston. He went a combined 3-2, 2.99 in 37 games (four starts), and had a 105-35 strikeout-walk ratio in 87 innings. Mowday finished strong, limiting South Atlantic League hitters to a .200 average.